Implement hitch for tool bar implements



Nov. 20, 1951 T. EVANS IMPLEMENT HITCH FOR TOOL BAR, IMPLEMENTS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 8, 1950 INVENTOR. 7 77/0/14: [VA/V5 Nov. 20, 1951 T. EVANS 2,575,801

IMPLEMENT HITCH FOR TOOL BAR IMPLEMENT-'3 Filed June 8, 1950 2 SHEETS-'-SHEET 2 30 INVENTOR.

filo HA5 [A /9N5 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1&5!

UNITED :srArE-s ear-Em osFicE ..IMPLEMENT.HITCH FOR TOOL BAR IMPLEMENTS l Thomas' Evans; Louisville; Ky;,-- assignor, by mesne assignments; .to, Minneapolise-Moline Company, a .a corporation of Minnesota "Application J une 8, 1950; SerialNo'. 166,841

"This invention'relates to an improved hitch for *toolbartype implements; and particularly to a hitch for 'effecting -the connection of the toolbar "'-It'o a well known type of traetor' having the: so-

called three link hitch arrangement.

Heretofore it has been found to be. very convenient to mount'varioustypes of" soil working implements in depending relationship-to a'transversely dispersed" tool bar and then to effect this connection 'ofthetool bar to a well known type -of-tractor by securing a so-called A-frame to the "tool -bar and providing'rlaterally and vertically spaced pivot pins onsuch A-frame for connection respectively'tdthe trailing hitch links of :the -we11- "known three-point implement hitch arrangement. It 'is, or course; equally "recognized that the most efiective implement operation is at tained whenthe implementis coupled as closely as possible to the rear: end of the tractor.

Such

close coupling is conveniently obtained with a tool-bar type-implement so long as theground engaging" implements may be disposed on either lateral sideofthe tractor rear' wheels. 5 However, there are many'instanceswherein the lateral location oi the groundengaging implements necessarily coincides with the tractor-rear wheels, in whichcase it is necessary that thelongitudinal stantial distance rearwardly ofthetractor rear position of the tool bar 'bemoved back a subwheels in orderto prevent interference between A particular object of this invention is to providea hitchfor a tool bar type implement which -will permit the tool bar to be selectively positioned in either a'closecoupled position adjacent to the rear wheels of the'tractorjor' an extended" f-posit-ion' wherein; it is displaced a substantial distance rearwardly of the tractor rear wheels.

1 A further object" of this invention is to: provide an implement :hitch for atool bar for use with tractors of the type-having laterally'spaced',=pow

13Claims. (.Cl". 97:1-50) erlifted, trailing hitch links wherein-zthelsame hitch frame may-be reversibly:mountedwith respectto thetool. bar to; selectively 1. positionsthe tool bar in either-of ltwo. longitudinallydisplaced "positions relative to the tractor.

The specific-nature of thiswinvention,p,-as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will .be-

. come apparent to those/skilled in the artfromthe i following detailed description,z.taken; in. conjunction with the. attached sheets of drawings. on wvhich; bywayof preferred *examplgpnly, is illustratecl one embodimentof this invention.

On the drawings: Fig. 1' is-a side. elevational "viewxillustrating. a tool" .bar type: implement wconnected-t $01 a well known type oitractor bymeansof the hitchem- .b'odying. this invention.

- r Fig; 2' is a-reduced scale plan cviewiof Big". 1.

Fig. 3-is an enlarged.scale. perspectivecview.iof the: hitch structure embodying this: invention.

1 Fig. 4 is a sideelevational lViGW-Z'Of the hitch structure embodying L this :invention: showing i it assembled to awell known type of-tractorini-its reversed'position. 1

' 1 Fig. 5-is a reduced scale plan-view of Figh ii -As shownonthe drawings: The impleme'nt embodying this :invention is =p'articular1y useful-with awell known .type'of *tractor indicated generally by thenumeral ;IU

having a-- pair "of laterallyspaced, powereliited,

-trailing hitch links l2: mounted. .to. the. rear axle housing and a'centra-l top link l-3trailinglye ivoted to the top of the difierential housing as at H4. Since this so-called three-pointhitchiswell known in the art; further detailed description :of S-theelements-thereon is deemed :to be unnecessary. i "The improved 'hitch embodying; this invent-ion --is particularly adaptableior connecting: tool bar types of implements to the tractor. This type :of

implement generally incorporates a transversely extending rectangularbar ifion which aplural-ity" elf-ground engaging tools aremounted :in

laterally spaced, dependingrelationship. .wSuch ground engaging tools -may:, comprise eplows,

;; plantersycultivator sweeps, hedding discs; etc.,-or --=in theexamplediagrammatically ShOWDx'On the drawings; may comprise a pair of middlebuster "units F 55a. Whatever the nature oi the implei'nent supported-by the'tool-bar, it issufficientto note that such implements are secured to the tool barby conventional clamp elements (not shown) Tomount the tool-bar l5-tothe hitchzlinksof 1 they tractor; 1 thisinvention provides a rigid .upstanding frame structure ifi of thei-type commonly referred to in the art as an A-frame. The A-frame it may be conveniently formed by two side frame elements ll of generally triangular configuration which have their bottom portions rigidly secured together in transversely spaced relationship by a pair of longitudinally spaced rods [8 and i9. Side frame elements IT project upwardly and inwardly, terminating in parallel top portions lla which are suitably spaced to receive the end of the tractor top link l3 therebetween and are pivotally attached to such top link by a pivot pin l'lb. If desired, a spacer sleeve l'lc (Fig. 3) may be bolted between the top portions Ila to maintain the proper spacing therebetween. Both of the rods l8 and I9 project laterally beyond each of the side frame elements I? and one of the rods, in this case the rearmost rod l9, has laterally projecting ends 19a which extend a substantial distance beyond the side frame element H, such ends being of reduced diameter.

A pair of identical tool bar supports 20 are provided, each of said supports having a body portion 20a terminating at one end in a clamp portion 20b. Clamp portion 20b is suitably shaped to surround approximately one-half of the tool bar l5 and may thus be rigidly clamped to the tool bar l5 through the cooperation of a clamp piece 2| and bolts Zia. The body portion 20a of each tool bar support has a pair of holes 200 .and 20d therein which are longitudinally spaced and of suitablediameter to respectively receive the projecting ends of the transverse rods l8 and I9 of the A-frame [6. When each of the tool bar supports 20 are mounted on the projecting ends of the rods [8 and I9, and secured to the tool bar l5 by the clamp elements 2|, it is apparent that the A-frame i6 is rigidly attached to the tool bar I5 and that no lateral or vertical displacement of the A-frame I5 relative to the tool bar supports 20 is possible. Accordingly, the tool bar I5 and its associated implements l5a may be bodily mounted on the tractor by the simple expedient of connecting the tractor draft links upon the extreme ends [9a of the rod [9, the extreme ends I9a thereby functioning as pivot pins for the mounting of the tractor hitch links. When thus mounted, it is obvious that the tool bar 15 and its associated implements [5a may be raised or lowered with respect to the ground by conventional operation of the tractor hydraulic system to raise or lower the hitch links.

With the described arrangement, it is apparent that the tool bar i5 is positioned in close coupled-relationship with respect-to the tractor and all of the advantages of such close coupling may be enjoyed. However, when the spacing of the tool bar carried implements [5a is such as to position the implements in line with the tractor rear wheels, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the described hitch may still be employed to effect the mountingof the tool bar implement to the two-- tor I through the simple expedient of longitudinally reversing the A-frame It with respect to the tool bar supports 20. In the reversed position of the A-frame 16, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cross rod IS with the laterally extended end portions lSais now disposed forwardly of the other cross rod l8 and the hole 200 in the tool bar support 20 which formerly received the rod l8 now receives the ends of the rod l9. Likewise, the hole 20d in the-tool bar support 20 which formerly received the projecting ends of the rod i9 is now mounted on the projecting ends of the rod l8. The hitch links of thetractor are mounted to the same points on the A-frame l8, namely, the pivot pin ill: in the top of the A-frame l6 and the extreme lateral ends l9a of the rod 19. By so reversing the A-frame IS, the tool bar I5 is longitudinally positioned with respect to the tractor a substantial distance rearwardly of its former position and hence the tool bar implements I5a may be mounted on the tool bar l5 directly behind the tractor rear wheels withoutjnterference with such wheels.

. Accordingly, it is apparent that this invention provides an unusually simple, rugged, and economically manufacturable-implement hitch for tool bar types of implements which will permit the tool bar to be selectively mounted in a plurality of longitudinal positions with respect to the tractor without requiring any additional parts or any complicated reassembling operations.

It will, of course, be understood that many details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: r

l. A tool bar implement hitch for a tractor having hitch mounting means at the rear thereof, comprising a frame having a pair of spaced substantially parallel bar portions, means on the frame for selectively reversably attaching the frame to said mounting means with said bar portions extending longitudinally in either forward or rearward directions relative to the place of attachment, a pair of tool bar supports each having tool bar clamping means at one'end, means for rigidly securing one of said supports to each of said bar portions with the clamping means remote from the tractor to jointly support a tool bar, said securing means including identical longitudinally spaced interlocking portions on each bar portion adapted to interlock with identical longitudinally spaced portions on each tool bar support whereby said supports may be so secured to said bar portions regardless of the selected position in which the frame has 'been mounted to thereby vary the longitudinal spacing of the tool bar relative to the tractor.

2. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor having upper and lower trailing draft links, comprising a rigid upstanding frame structure having means at its top for connection to the tractor upper link and means at its bottom for connection to the tractor lower link, said connection means being aligned on a transverse vertical plane when connected and the frame having support holding means arranged at right angles to said plane, each of said connection means being equilateral for selective reversable connection of theframe to the links for extension of said holding means in either longitudinally rearward or forward directions relative to said plane, an elongated-tool bar support having a tool bar clamp at one end, and means for longitudinally reversably attaching the support to the support holding means with said one end remote from the tractor regardless of the selected connection of the frame to the links for varying the longitudinal spacing of the tool bar relative to the tractor.

3. A tool bar implement hitch for tractors having a pair of laterally spaced draft links and a central top link, a pair of tool bar supports each having an elongated body portion and a tool bar clamping means atone end, each tool ;.supports to the member in either of having laterally spaced bottom portions and the adapted to fit said support openings for attachment of the supports to the mounting member,

and each of saidprojections adapted to fit each of said support' openingsior attachment of the its selective positions.

4. A tool bar implement hitch for a tractor comprising a frame adaptedltdbe mounted on 4 gar end of the tra'ctor and having apair 1 of longitudinally spaced laterally extending pins at each sidethereof, a pair of tool bar supports eachhaving a pair of spaced aperturesadapted 'reheive said pinsfor'jattachment of 'lihfif sup p "rts" to the frameandeach of said"supports* having tool bar clamping means at one end for jointly supporting a transverse tool bar at the rear of the tractor, and each of said apertures adapted to receive each of said pins whereby the support may be longitudinally reversed relative to the frame to vary the longitudinal spacing of the clampin means relative to the tractor.

5. A tool bar implement hitch for a tractor comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on the rear end of the tractor and having a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending pins at each side thereof, a pair of tool bar supports each having a pair of spaced apertures adapted to receive said pins for attachment of the supports to the frame and each of said supports having tool bar clamping means at one end for jointly supporting a transverse tool bar at the rear of the tractor, each of said apertures adapted to receive each of said pins whereby the support may be longitudinally reversed relative to the frame to vary the longitudinal spacing of the clamping means relative to the tractor, and all of said pins lying on the same horizontal plane for supportin the tool bar at the same elevation regardless of the position of the supports relative to the frame.

6. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced, trailing draft links and a central top link comprising an upright frame having means at its top for connection to the top link and having a pair of transversely spaced laterally projecting pins below said means, a pair of tool bar supports, each support having a tool bar clamping means thereon and having an aperture therein proportioned to receive one of said pins for draft connection of the supports to the frame, cooperating means between the frame and each support preventing relative movement of the sup port about its draft connection, and said pins extending laterally beyond the supports for connection to the respective draft links to give the frame rigid support on the tractor and prevent lateral displacement of the supports from their respective carrying pins.

7. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor havin a pair of laterally spaced, power lifted, trailing draft links and a central top link, comprising a pair of upstanding frame elements 1 .3 6 a more 1 1 li k;

1" 11 16391 t "e ach r ps b acket t :receive the. r t pair "of longitudinally spaced rods room ns'ft ejbo t m r n Tb ejelem nts, each pf said rods having promot ng late ally bey nd a d e 'l ments; a pair of'tool bar supports'eachQhjaving v an elongated body portion and tool bar securing l t q shdyf a tosrj ser n lackber- Pai f a tur s herein" orjr p gtive y receiving" "the rod ends projeeting beyond one of m ets, h ro c ends f on eingfconstructedj and arrangedfor onnec tion to the tractor hitch links. V

Ajtool b'ar' implement hitch for use with a v v, or he ng apair bilaterally spacedpower ;11ng draftlinks] and afcentral top link, ris ng a pair of upstanding frame elements g laterally spaced bottom portions and "top lined towardfleach other t iuefiiiie' a a 'ket to receive the tractor topf link, I udii'iallyspaced rods rigidlyinternec ng bottom por'tions ofsaidiframe elem tsf ea ch of ,said rods having ends prol'tingla te rally peyote saidname elements, a pair of tool bar supports each havin an elongated body portion and tool bar securing means at one end, said body portions each having a pair of apertures therein for respectively receiving the rod ends projecting beyond one of said frame elements, the projecting ends of one of said rods being constructed and arranged for connection to the tractor hitch links, and a transverse tool bar rigidly secured to said securing means on said tool bar supports, thereby anchoring said tool bar supports against lateral displacement relative to said rods.

'9. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced, power lifted trailing draft links and a central top link, comprising a rigid upstanding frame structure having means at its top for connection to the tractor top link and a pair of transversely spaced, laterally projecting pins at its bottom for connection respectively to the tractor hitch links, and a pair of tool bar supports, each having tool bar clamping means at one end and each having a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures therein, each of said apertures bein proportioned to selectively receive one of said laterally projecting pins, whereby said frame structure may be longitudinally reversibly mounted relative to said tool bar supports to vary the longitudinal spacing of the tool bar relative to the tractor, and means on said frame structure cooperating with the other aperture of each of said tool bar supports to rigidly position said tool bar supports relative to said frame structure.

10. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced, power lifted, trailing draft links and a central top link, comprising a rigid A-frame structure having means at the top for connection to the tractor top link and a longitudinally elongated bottom portion, a pair of transversely projecting pivot pins respectively mounted on opposite sides of the bottom portion of said A-frame and adjacent one longitudinal end thereof, said pivot pins being adapted for connection to the tractor hitch links, and a pair of tool bar supports, each having tool bar fastening means at one end and each having a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures therein, each of said apertures being proportioned to receive one ofsaid laterally projecting .7 pins, whereby said A-frame ,may be longitudinally reversibly mounted relative to said tool bar supports to vary the longitudinal spacing of the tool bar relative to the tractor, and means on said'A-frame cooperating with the other aperture of each of said tool bar supports to rigidly position said tool bar supports relative to said frame structure.

11; The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said projecting pins respectively comprise opposite ends of a single transverse rod.

12. A tool bar implement hitch for use with a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced, power lifted, trailing draft links and a central top link,

comprising a rigid A-frame structure having,

means at the top for connection to the tractor top link and a longitudinally elongated bottom portion, a pair of transversely projecting pivot pins respectively mounted on opposite sides of the bottom portion of said A-frame, a pair of fastening means at one end and each havin transversely projecting anchor pins respectively a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures'therein constructed and arranged to respectively receive the pivot pin and anchor pin on one side .of said A-frame, whereby said A-frame may be longitudinally reversibly mounted relative to said toolbar supports to vary the longitudinal spacing of the tool bar relative to the tractor.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said pivot pins constitute opposite ends of a first rod, and said anchor pins constitute opposite ends of a second rod.

THOMAS EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES rwrEN'rs Number Name Date 2,145,007 Foster Jan. 24, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country :Date

, 565,167 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1944 

